Alamos Gold Inc. (
TSX:AGI;
NYSE:AGI) (“Alamos” or the “Company”) today reported
positive results of an internal economic study completed on its
Burnt Timber and Linkwood satellite deposits located in proximity
to the Lynn Lake project in Manitoba, Canada. In August 2023, an
Updated Feasibility Study (“2023 Study”) was released on the Lynn
Lake project outlining a long-life, low-cost project in Canada with
attractive economics. The 2023 Study was based only on the Gordon
and MacLellan deposits which are to be mined over the first 11
years, with the processing of lower-grade stockpiled ore for the
remainder of the 17-year mine life.
The Burnt Timber and Linkwood deposits are
expected to provide a source of additional mill feed to the Lynn
Lake project starting in year 12, deferring the lower grade
stockpiles until later in the mine plan. This is expected to extend
the mine life of the combined Lynn Lake project to 27 years,
increase longer term production rates, and enhance its economics as
a low-capital, high-return satellite project.
Burnt Timber & Linkwood Study
Highlights:
- Average annual gold production of 83,000 ounces over a
10 year mine life
- Higher margin production: total cash costs of
$1,140 per ounce and mine-site all-in sustaining costs of $1,164
per ounce, providing lower costs and higher margins than stockpiles
from Lynn Lake
- Low initial capital of $67 million with mining
equipment and planned processing infrastructure at Lynn Lake to be
utilized. Life of mine capital, including
sustaining capital and reclamation, is expected to total $88
million
- Low initial capital intensity of $77 per ounce
produced, or $101 per ounce based on total life of mine
capital including sustaining capital and reclamation
- Low total all-in cost of $1,241 per ounce,
including life of mine capital
- Lower execution risk with key infrastructure
from the Lynn Lake project to be utilized
- High-return project with additional upside
potential
- After-tax Internal Rate of Return (“IRR”) of 54% and
after-tax Net Present Value (“NPV”) (5%) of $177 million
(base case gold price assumption of $2,200 per ounce, and CAD/USD
foreign exchange rate of $0.75:1, discounted to 2025);
after-tax NPV (5%) of $317 million discounted to the start
of construction
- After-tax IRR of 83% and after-tax NPV (5%) of $292
million at closer to spot prices of approximately $2,800
per ounce of gold, and CAD/USD foreign exchange rate of $0.70:1;
after-tax NPV (5%) of $524 million discounted to the start
of construction
- Payback of less than one year at the base case
gold price of $2,200 per ounce
Lynn Lake + Burnt Timber and Linkwood
Highlights:
- 40% increase in combined Mineral Reserves to 3.3
million ounces of gold, including:
- Initial Mineral Reserve of 940,000 ounces of gold at
Burnt Timber and Linkwood (31 million tonnes (“mt”)
grading 0.95 grams per tonne of gold (“g/t Au”)
- Lynn Lake Mineral Reserve of 2.3 million
ounces (48 mt grading 1.52 g/t Au) as of the end of
2023
- 40% increase in combined life of mine production to 3.1
million ounces
- Longer mine life, with higher longer-term average
production rate
- Lynn Lake mine life extended to 27 years, from
17 years in the 2023 Study
- Average annual production of 176,000 ounces over the
initial 10 years, unchanged from 2023 Study
- Higher average annual production of 85,000 ounces years
12 to 17, up 60% from 53,000 ounces in the 2023 Study
- Significant near-mine and regional exploration
upside
- Burnt Timber and Linkwood deposits remain open to the
west and at depth with the 2025 drill program focused on
expanding mineralization beyond existing Mineral Reserves
- Multiple regional targets across most of the east-west
trending Lynn Lake Greenstone Belt, of which Alamos has a
total of 58,000 hectares of mineral tenure covering 80 kilometres
(“km”) of strike length. This includes the Maynard and Tulune
targets where broad zones of near surface gold mineralization have
been intersected. Both targets are within trucking distance of the
planned MacLellan mill.
“Lynn Lake is an attractive, long-life, low-cost
stand alone project. The addition of Burnt Timber and Linkwood has
enhanced the overall project and already strong economics by
leveraging existing infrastructure to extend the mine life, and
increase longer term production rates, at a low capital cost. The
high returns within the Burnt Timber and Linkwood study highlight
the significant upside potential across the larger, underexplored
Lynn Lake greenstone belt. With a number of targets already
identified across the Lynn Lake District, we see excellent
opportunities to define and develop additional satellite deposits
to feed the centralized mill well beyond the currently defined 27
year mine life,” said John A. McCluskey, President and Chief
Executive Officer.
Burnt Timber & Linkwood Project
Highlights |
|
Production |
|
Mine life – starting year 12 of the Lynn Lake mine plan
(years) |
|
10.5 |
|
Total gold production (000 ounces) |
|
871 |
|
|
|
Average annual gold production (000 ounces) |
|
83 |
|
|
|
Total ore mined (000 tonnes) |
|
30,667 |
|
Total waste mined (000 tonnes) |
|
85,348 |
|
Total material mined (000 tonnes) |
|
116,015 |
|
Total waste-to-ore ratio |
|
2.8 |
|
|
|
Average gold grade mined (grams per tonne) |
|
0.95 |
|
Average mill throughput (tonnes per day (“tpd”)) |
|
8,000 |
|
|
|
Gold recovery (%) |
|
92.7 |
% |
|
|
Operating Costs |
|
Total cost per tonne of ore (C$)1 |
$ |
43.27 |
|
Total cash cost (per ounce)2 |
$ |
1,140 |
|
Mine-site all-in sustaining cost (per ounce)2 |
$ |
1,164 |
|
Capital Costs |
|
Initial capital expenditure (millions) |
$ |
67 |
|
Sustaining capital expenditure and reclamation costs
(millions) |
$ |
21 |
|
Total capital expenditure (millions) |
$ |
88 |
|
Total capital expenditure (per ounce) |
$ |
101 |
|
Total all-in cost (per ounce)2,3 |
$ |
1,241 |
|
Base Case Economic Analysis at $2,200 per ounce Gold
Price |
|
IRR (after-tax) |
|
54 |
% |
NPV @ 0% discount rate (millions, after-tax) |
$ |
549 |
|
NPV @ 5% discount rate (millions, after-tax) – discounted to start
of construction |
$ |
317 |
|
NPV @ 5% discount rate (millions, after-tax) – discounted to start
of 2025 |
$ |
177 |
|
Gold price assumption (per ounce) |
$ |
2,200 |
|
Exchange Rate (CAD/USD) |
$ |
0.75:1 |
|
Economic Analysis at $2,800 per ounce Gold
Price |
|
IRR (after-tax) |
|
83 |
% |
NPV @ 0% discount rate (millions, after-tax) |
$ |
886 |
|
NPV @ 5% discount rate (millions, after-tax) – discounted to start
of construction |
$ |
524 |
|
NPV @ 5% discount rate (millions, after-tax) – discounted to start
of 2025 |
$ |
292 |
|
Gold price assumption (per ounce) |
$ |
2,800 |
|
Exchange Rate (CAD/USD) |
$ |
0.70:1 |
|
- Total unit cost per tonne of ore includes mining, processing,
ore haulage, G&A, royalties and refining costs
- Please refer to the Cautionary Notes on non-GAAP Measures and
Additional GAAP Measures
- Total all-in cost per ounce produced is calculated as total
cash cost per ounce plus total capital per ounce produced over the
life of mine
Mineral Reserves and Resources
An initial Mineral Reserve totaling 940,000
ounces grading 0.95 g/t Au (31 mt) has been declared at Burnt
Timber and Linkwood reflecting the successful conversion of
Inferred Mineral Resources. Additionally, the two deposits
host 287,000 ounces in Measured & Indicated (10.6 mt grading
0.84 g/t). Only Mineral Reserves were included in the mine plan and
economic analysis, with Mineral Resources representing potential
upside.
Mineral Reserves – Effective as of December 31,
2024
Classification |
Tonnage (000’s) |
Grade (g/t Au) |
Contained oz (000’s Au) |
Proven |
2,902 |
1.33 |
124 |
Probable |
27,769 |
0.91 |
816 |
Total Proven & Probable |
30,670 |
0.95 |
940 |
- Mineral Reserves reported are consistent with the CIM
Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral
Reserves.
- Mineral Reserves are reported to a cut-off grade of 0.39 g/t
Au.
- The cut-off grades are based on a gold price of $1,600/oz
Au.
- Metallurgical Au recovery is 93%.
- Totals may not add up due to rounding.
- Chris Bostwick, FAusIMM, Senior Vice President, Technical
Services is the Qualified Person for the Mineral Reserve estimate.
Mr. Bostwick is a Qualified Person within the meaning of Canadian
Securities Administrator's National Instrument 43-101 ("NI
43-101").
Mineral Resources – Effective as of
December 31, 2024
Category |
Tonnage (000’s) |
Grade (g/t Au) |
Contained oz (000’s Au) |
Measured |
114 |
3.14 |
11 |
Indicated |
10,459 |
0.82 |
276 |
Measured & Indicated |
10,573 |
0.84 |
287 |
Inferred |
926 |
1.04 |
31 |
- Mineral Resources reported are consistent with the CIM
Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral
Reserves.
- The Mineral Resources are reported at an assumed gold price of
US$1,800/oz.
- Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have
demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that all or
any part of the Mineral Resources estimated will be converted into
Mineral Reserves.
- Contained Au ounces are in-situ and do not include
metallurgical recovery losses.
- Mineral Resources are exclusive of Mineral Reserves.
- Totals may not add up due to rounding.
- Jeff Volk, CPG, FAusIMM, Director Reserves and Resources, is
the Qualified Person for the Mineral Resource estimate. Mr. Volk is
a Qualified Person within the meaning of Canadian Securities
Administrator's National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101").
Economic Analysis
Burnt Timber and Linkwood’s estimated after-tax
IRR is 54% and after-tax NPV (5%) is $177 million, discounted to
the start of 2025, assuming a gold price of $2,200 per ounce and
CAD/USD foreign exchange rate of $0.75:1. Assuming closer to spot
gold prices of approximately $2,800 per ounce and CAD/USD foreign
exchange rate of $0.70:1, the after-tax IRR increases to 83% and
after-tax NPV (5%) increases to $292 million. These economics
represent upside to the 2023 Study prepared for the Lynn Lake
project which only included the Gordon and MacLellan deposits. The
payback on the Burnt Timber and Linkwood project is less than a
year under the base case scenario.
The mine plan, operating parameters, and capital
estimates incorporated in the study are based on operating
experience and benchmarking against Alamos’ current operations.
The project economics are sensitive to metal
price assumptions, foreign exchange rates, and input costs as
detailed in the tables below.
Burnt Timber and Linkwood After-Tax NPV1 (5%)
Sensitivity ($ Millions)
|
-10% |
-5% |
Base Case |
5% |
10% |
Gold Price |
$ |
142 |
$ |
160 |
$ |
177 |
$ |
194 |
$ |
214 |
Canadian Dollar |
$ |
196 |
$ |
185 |
$ |
177 |
$ |
169 |
$ |
160 |
Operating Costs |
$ |
195 |
$ |
185 |
$ |
177 |
$ |
168 |
$ |
159 |
Capital Costs |
$ |
178 |
$ |
178 |
$ |
177 |
$ |
176 |
$ |
175 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Burnt Timber and Linkwood After-Tax NPV1 (5%)
Sensitivity to Gold Price and CAD/USD ($ Millions)
|
|
Canadian Dollar |
Gold PriceUS$/oz |
|
|
$0.700 |
|
$0.725 |
|
$0.750 |
|
$0.775 |
|
$0.800 |
$ |
2,000 |
$ |
157 |
$ |
151 |
$ |
145 |
$ |
138 |
$ |
131 |
$ |
2,200 |
$ |
189 |
$ |
182 |
$ |
177 |
$ |
171 |
$ |
165 |
$ |
2,400 |
$ |
224 |
$ |
218 |
$ |
210 |
$ |
203 |
$ |
197 |
$ |
2,600 |
$ |
257 |
$ |
252 |
$ |
245 |
$ |
239 |
$ |
232 |
$ |
2,800 |
$ |
292 |
$ |
285 |
$ |
278 |
$ |
273 |
$ |
266 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Burnt Timber and Linkwood After-Tax IRR1 Sensitivity to
Gold Price and CAD/USD (%)
|
|
Canadian Dollar |
Gold PriceUS$/oz |
|
|
$0.700 |
|
|
$0.725 |
|
|
$0.750 |
|
|
$0.775 |
|
|
$0.800 |
|
$ |
2,000 |
|
51.4 |
% |
|
48.9 |
% |
|
46.3 |
% |
|
43.8 |
% |
|
41.7 |
% |
$ |
2,200 |
|
59.6 |
% |
|
56.3 |
% |
|
53.6 |
% |
|
51.3 |
% |
|
48.9 |
% |
$ |
2,400 |
|
67.9 |
% |
|
64.5 |
% |
|
61.3 |
% |
|
58.7 |
% |
|
55.6 |
% |
$ |
2,600 |
|
75.4 |
% |
|
72.3 |
% |
|
69.1 |
% |
|
66.0 |
% |
|
63.0 |
% |
$ |
2,800 |
|
83.4 |
% |
|
79.6 |
% |
|
76.1 |
% |
|
73.2 |
% |
|
70.3 |
% |
- Discounted to start of 2025
Project Overview
The Burnt Timber and Linkwood deposits are
accessible by an all-season gravel road from Highway 397,
approximately 28 km from the planned MacLellan mill. The two
deposits will be mined using conventional open pit mining methods
with mining equipment from the Lynn Lake project to be utilized
once the MacLellan deposit has been depleted. Ore will be hauled to
and processed through the MacLellan mill to be constructed as part
of the Lynn Lake project.
The 2023 Study for the Lynn Lake project
outlined a 17-year mine life based on the Gordon and MacLellan
deposits. The two deposits are expected to be mined and depleted
over the first 11 years, with lower-grade stockpiled ore to be
processed over the final six years.
With the incorporation of Burnt Timber and
Linkwood, these relatively higher grade deposits will be mined and
processed starting in year 12, deferring lower-grade stockpiled ore
from Lynn Lake until year 22. This is expected to extend the mine
life of the combined project to 27 years, from 17, and provide
higher average annual rates of production from year 12 onward.
Mining
The Burnt Timber and Linkwood deposits will be
mined using conventional shovel/truck open pit mining methods, with
owner mining to be employed. The Burnt Timber deposit will be mined
over a seven-year period and the Linkwood deposit will be mined
over an eight-year period. Mining activities at both deposits will
overlap, for a combined mine-life of 10 years, including
pre-stripping activities.
Total mining rates (ore + waste) will vary
between 13,000 and 35,000 tonnes per day (“tpd”) at an average life
of mine waste to ore strip ratio of 2.8:1. The majority of the
mining fleet from the Lynn Lake project will be utilized once the
MacLellan deposit has been depleted. Ore from Burnt Timber and
Linkwood will be transported approximately 28 kilometres to the
MacLellan mill.
Processing (MacLellan Mill)
Ore from Burnt Timber and Linkwood will be
processed at a rate of 8,000 tpd through the MacLellan mill to be
built as part of the Lynn Lake project, therefore no processing
capital is expected to be required to process ore from these
deposits. No changes to the mill are anticipated.
The mill being constructed for the Lynn Lake
project is a conventional milling operation with a nominal capacity
of 8,000 tpd. The plant design is based on leach/carbon in pulp
(“CIP”), and will consist of crushing, grinding, thickening,
pre-aeration and leaching, CIP, cyanide detoxification, carbon
elution and regeneration, and gold smelting.
Mill recoveries from Burnt Timber and Linkwood
ore are expected to average 92.7% for gold over the life of mine,
consistent with the Lynn Lake project. Power to the MacLellan site,
which will host all the process facilities and major
infrastructure, will be supplied from Manitoba Hydro through the
commercial electricity grid.
The tailings management facility (“TMF”) to be
built as part of the Lynn Lake project will have sufficient
capacity, with additional lifts required to accommodate current
Mineral Reserves at Burnt Timber and Linkwood.
Operating Costs
Total cash costs are expected to average $1,140
per ounce of gold and mine-site all-in sustaining costs $1,164 per
ounce of gold over the life of the operation. Total unit operating
costs are expected to average C$43.27 per tonne of ore processed.
This includes average mining costs of C$4.25 per tonne of material
mined across the Burnt Timber and Linkwood deposits, and processing
and haulage costs of C$19.15 per tonne of ore.
The breakdown of unit costs is summarized as
follows.
Operating Costs |
|
C$/t |
LOM US$M |
Mining1 |
C$/t mined |
$ |
4.25 |
$ |
353.8 |
|
|
|
|
Mining1 |
C$/t ore |
$ |
15.38 |
$ |
353.8 |
Processing & Ore Haulage |
C$/t ore |
$ |
19.15 |
$ |
440.5 |
G&A |
C$/t ore |
$ |
8.35 |
$ |
192.0 |
Refining, Transport, Royalties |
C$/t ore |
$ |
0.39 |
$ |
8.9 |
Total Operating Costs |
C$/t ore |
$ |
43.27 |
$ |
995.1 |
|
|
|
|
Total Cash Costs2 |
US$/oz |
$ |
1,140 |
|
Mine-site All-in Sustaining Costs2 |
US$/oz |
$ |
1,164 |
|
- Average mining cost per tonne is for the production years
- Please refer to the Cautionary Notes on non-GAAP Measures and
Additional GAAP Measures
Royalties
There is a capped third-party royalty on a
portion of production at Linkwood. Based on a $2,200 per ounce gold
price, the cap is expected to be reached in the first two years,
and will total approximately $6 million in royalty payments over
that period. Burnt Timber and Linkwood are not expected to be
subject to any other third-party royalties for the remainder of
their mine life.
Capital Costs
Initial capital of $67 million will be spent
over a two-year period starting year 10. This will include haul
road upgrades, truck shop relocation, pit dewatering, and
pre-stripping activities, with mobile equipment from the Lynn Lake
project to be utilized for mining activities.
The mill, tailings management facility, and
permanent camp, to be constructed as part of the Lynn Lake project,
will be utilized for Burnt Timber and Linkwood keeping initial
capital costs low.
A breakdown of the initial and total capital
requirements is detailed as follows.
Capital Costs (US$ millions) |
|
Infrastructure |
$ |
26.8 |
Pre-production mining |
$ |
12.9 |
Owner
Costs & Indirects |
$ |
12.7 |
TMF
(additional lifts) |
$ |
9.1 |
Contingency |
$ |
5.7 |
Total Initial Capital |
$ |
67.3 |
|
|
Sustaining capital |
$ |
5.8 |
Reclamation and Closure Costs |
$ |
15.0 |
Total Capital |
$ |
88.1 |
|
|
|
Taxes
Burnt Timber and Linkwood will be subject to
provincial, federal, and mining taxes. Assuming a gold price of
$2,200 per ounce and CAD/USD foreign exchange rate of 0.75:1, taxes
paid are expected to total $284 million over the 10-year mine life
for an effective tax rate of approximately 34%.
Environment &
Permitting
The mining and processing of ore from Burnt
Timber and Linkwood deposits through the MacLellan mill will
require amendments to existing authorizations for the Lynn Lake
Project (the federal Decision Statement and the provincial
Environment Act License). Additional federal and provincial
authorizations, specific to the development of the Burnt Timber and
Linkwood deposits, will also be required.
Additional Upside
Opportunities
In-pit tailings
Utilizing the MacLellan open pit as a tailing
storage facility once the deposit has been depleted will be
evaluated as a longer term opportunity. This could provide capital
and operating cost savings relative to completing additional lifts
on the Lynn Lake TMF. This could also provide additional
longer term capacity to accommodate the development of additional
satellite deposits across the Lynn Lake District.
Exploration upside at Burnt Timber and
Linkwood
There is significant potential to continue
expanding mineralization beyond the currently defined Mineral
Reserve pits at Burnt Timber and Linkwood. The 2025 drill program
includes over 7,000 metres of drilling focused on expanding
mineralization to the west of both Mineral Reserve pits. At Burnt
Timber, drilling is also planned below the eastern portion of the
previously mined-pit where there has been limited historical
drilling. At Linkwood, drilling is also planned immediately below
the main portion of the 2024 Mineral Reserve pit where no drilling
has been completed and mineralization remains open, as well as
following up on near-surface mineralization to the west (see
Figures 2 to 4).
Exploration upside underground at
MacLellan and Gordon
The MacLellan and Gordon deposits remain open at
depth with potential for higher-grade mineralization below the
current Mineral Reserve pits. This represents a longer-term
opportunity as a source of additional higher-grade mill feed for
the Lynn Lake project. MacLellan previously operated as an
underground mine with a total of 969,680 tonnes, grading 5.36g/t Au
mined between 1986 and 1989.
Significant regional exploration
potential
The Lynn Lake project encompasses most of the
east-west trending Lynn Lake Greenstone Belt in northwestern
Manitoba, of which Alamos has a total of 58,000 hectares of mineral
tenure covering 80 km of strike length, representing significant
exploration potential including the Maynard and Tulune regional
targets.
The Maynard target is located 8 km northwest of
the Burnt Timber deposit, and 20 km by road from the proposed
MacLellan mill. Through additional drilling and exploration,
Maynard has the potential to become an additional satellite
deposit, and future source of mill feed, similar to Burnt Timber
and Linkwood. Significant gold mineralization has been extended
over a 750 m strike length and to a depth of 330 m. To date, all 23
holes drilled by Alamos within the Maynard target have intersected
gold mineralization including higher grade intercepts such as 5.87
g/t Au over 11.88 m, including 13.81 g/t Au over 2.80 m, and 20.29
g/t Au over 1.22 m (23LLX066)1.
Tulune is a greenfields discovery made in 2020,
and is located between the Gordon and MacLellan deposits. Drilling
has extended broad zones of near surface gold mineralization over a
2 km strike length. All 29 holes drilled within the granite and
granodiorite have intersected gold mineralization.
1Gold grades reported as uncut, composite
intervals reported as core length, true width is unknown at this
time.
Technical Disclosure
Chris Bostwick, FAusIMM, Alamos Gold's
Senior Vice President, Technical Services, has reviewed and
approved the scientific and technical information contained in this
news release. Mr. Bostwick is a Qualified Person within
the meaning of Canadian Securities
Administrator's National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101").
About Alamos
Alamos is a Canadian-based intermediate gold
producer with diversified production from three operating mines in
North America. This includes the Island Gold District and
Young-Davidson mine in northern Ontario, Canada, and the Mulatos
District in Sonora State, Mexico. Additionally, the Company has a
significant portfolio of development stage projects, including the
Phase 3+ Expansion at Island Gold, and the Lynn Lake project in
Manitoba, Canada. Alamos employs more than 2,400 people and is
committed to the highest standards of sustainable development. The
Company’s shares are traded on the TSX and NYSE under the symbol
“AGI”.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Scott K. Parsons Senior Vice President,
Corporate Development & Investor Relations (416) 368-9932 x
5439
Khalid ElhajVice President, Business
Development & Investor Relations(416) 368-9932 x
5427ir@alamosgold.com
The TSX and NYSE have not reviewed and do not
accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this
release.
Cautionary Note
This news release contains or incorporates by
reference “forward-looking statements” and “forward-looking
information” as defined under applicable Canadian and U.S.
securities laws. All statements in this news release, other than
statements of historical fact, which address events, results,
outcomes or developments that the Company expects to occur are, or
may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements and are generally,
but not always, identified by the use of forward-looking
terminology such as “future”, "expect", “assume”, “anticipate”,
“potential”, “proposed”, “plan”, “estimate”, “continue”,
“evaluating”, “target”, “opportunity” or variations of such words
and phrases and similar expressions or statements that certain
actions, events or results “may", “could”, “would”, "might" or
"will" be taken, occur or be achieved or the negative connotation
of such terms. Forward-looking statements contained in this news
release are based on information, expectations, estimates and
projections as of the date of this news release.
Forward-looking statements in this news release
include, but may not be limited to, information as to strategy,
plans, expectations or future financial or operating performance
pertaining to, or anticipated to result from, the Lynn Lake Project
and the Burnt Timber and Linkwood Deposits, such as expectations,
assumptions and estimations regarding: gold production; production
potential; mining, processing, milling and production rates; gold
grades; gold prices; foreign exchange rates; total cash costs,
all-in sustaining costs, mine-site all-in sustaining costs, capital
expenditures, total sustaining and growth capital, life of mine
capital, reclamation capital, taxes, IRR, NPV; returns to
stakeholders; mine plans; mine life; Mineral Reserve life; Mineral
Reserves and Resources; exploration potential, budgets, focuses,
programs, targets and projected results; execution risk;
construction activities, capital spending, planned infrastructure,
intended method of mining the deposits and production with respect
to the Lynn Lake project and the Burnt Timber and Linkwood deposits
near the Lynn Lake project; additional upside opportunities; as
well as other general information as to strategy, plans or future
financial or operating performance, such as the Company’s expansion
plans, project timelines, production plans and expected sustainable
productivity increases, expected increases in mining activities and
corresponding cost efficiencies, cost estimates, sufficiency of
working capital for future commitments and other statements that
express management’s expectations or estimates of future plans and
performance.
Exploration results that include geophysics,
sampling, and drill results on wide spacings may not be indicative
of the occurrence of a mineral deposit. Such results do not provide
assurance that further work will establish sufficient grade,
continuity, metallurgical characteristics and economic potential to
be classed as a category of Mineral Resource. A Mineral Resource
that is classified as "Inferred" or "Indicated" has a great amount
of uncertainty as to its existence and economic and legal
feasibility. It cannot be assumed that any or part of an "Indicated
Mineral Resource" or "Inferred Mineral Resource" will ever be
upgraded to a higher category of Mineral Resource. Investors are
cautioned not to assume that all or any part of mineral deposits in
these categories will ever be converted into Proven and Probable
Mineral Reserves.
The Company cautions that forward-looking
statements are necessarily based upon several factors and
assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management at the
time of making such statements, are inherently subject to
significant business, economic, technical, legal, political, and
competitive uncertainties, and contingencies. Known and unknown
factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those
projected in the forward-looking statements, and undue reliance
should not be placed on such statements and information.
Such factors include (without limitation): the
actual results of current and future exploration activities;
changes to current estimates of mineral reserves and mineral
resources; conclusions of economic and geological evaluations;
changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; the
speculative nature of mineral exploration and development; risks in
obtaining and maintaining necessary licenses, permits and
authorizations for the Company’s development stage and operating
assets; risk that required amendments to existing permits for the
Lynn Lake project to accommodate the Burnt Timber and Linkwood
Deposits may not be obtained; operations may be exposed to new
illnesses, diseases, epidemics and pandemics, including any ongoing
or future effects of COVID-19 (and any related ongoing or future
regulatory or government responses) and its impact on the broader
market and the trading price of the Company's shares; provincial
and federal orders or mandates (including with respect to mining
operations generally or auxiliary businesses or services required
for operations) in Canada, Mexico, the United States and Türkiye,
all of which may affect many aspects of the Company's operations
including the ability to transport personnel to and from site,
contractor and supply availability and the ability to sell or
deliver gold doré bars; changes in national and local government
legislation, controls or regulations; failure to comply with
environmental and health and safety laws and regulations; labour
and contractor availability (and being able to secure the same on
favourable terms); disruptions in the maintenance or provision of
required infrastructure and information technology systems;
fluctuations in the price of gold or certain other commodities such
as, diesel fuel, natural gas, and electricity; operating or
technical difficulties in connection with mining or development
activities, including geotechnical challenges and changes to
production estimates (which assume accuracy of projected ore grade,
mining rates, recovery timing and recovery rate estimates and may
be impacted by unscheduled maintenance); changes in foreign
exchange rates (particularly the Canadian dollar, U.S. dollar,
Mexican peso and Turkish Lira); the impact of inflation; the
potential impact of the implementation of any tariffs, trade
barriers and/or regulatory costs; employee and community relations;
the impact of litigation and administrative proceedings (including
but not limited to the application for judicial review of the
positive Decision Statement issued by the Ministry of Environment
and Climate Change Canada commenced by the Mathias Colomb Cree
Nation (MCCN) in respect of the Lynn Lake Project and the MCCN’s
corresponding internal appeal of the Environment Act Licences
issued by the Province of Manitoba for the Project) and any
interim or final court, arbitral and/or administrative decisions;
disruptions affecting operations; availability of and increased
costs associated with mining inputs and labour; delays in the Phase
3+ Expansion at Island Gold; delays in the construction and
development of the Lynn Lake Project; changes with respect to the
intended method of mining and processing ore from the Lynn Lake
Project and the Burnt Timber and Linkwood Deposits; inherent risks
and hazards associated with mining and mineral processing including
environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected
formations, pressures and cave-ins; the risk that the Company’s
mines may not perform as planned; uncertainty with the Company's
ability to secure additional capital to execute its business plans;
contests over title to properties; expropriation or nationalization
of property; political or economic developments in Canada, Mexico,
the United States, Türkiye and other jurisdictions in which the
Company may carry on business in the future; increased costs and
risks related to the potential impact of climate change; the costs
and timing of exploration, construction and development of new
deposits; risk of loss due to sabotage, protests and other civil
disturbances; the impact of global liquidity and credit
availability and the values of assets and liabilities based on
projected future cash flows; risks arising from holding derivative
instruments; and business opportunities that may be pursued by the
Company.
For a more detailed discussion of such risks and
other risk factors that may affect the Company's ability to achieve
the expectations set forth in the forward-looking statements
contained in this news release, see the Company’s latest
40-F/Annual Information Form and Management’s Discussion and
Analysis, each under the heading “Risk Factors” available on the
SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.ca or on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. The
foregoing should be reviewed in conjunction with the information,
risk factors and assumptions found in this news release.
The Company disclaims any intention or
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise,
except as required by applicable law.
Cautionary Note to U.S.
Investors
Alamos prepares its disclosure in accordance
with the requirements of securities laws in effect in Canada.
Unless otherwise indicated, all Mineral Resource and Mineral
Reserve estimates included in this document have been prepared in
accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of
Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”) and the Canadian
Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (the “CIM”) - CIM
Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves,
adopted by the CIM Council, as amended (the “CIM Standards”). NI
43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities
Administrators, which established standards for all public
disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information
concerning mineral projects. Mining disclosure in the United States
was previously required to comply with SEC Industry Guide 7 (“SEC
Industry Guide 7”) under the United States Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
(the “SEC”) has adopted final rules, to replace SEC Industry Guide
7 with new mining disclosure rules under sub-part 1300 of
Regulation S-K of the U.S. Securities Act (“Regulation S-K 1300”)
which became mandatory for U.S. reporting companies beginning with
the first fiscal year commencing on or after January 1, 2021. Under
Regulation S-K 1300, the SEC now recognizes estimates of “Measured
Mineral Resources”, “Indicated Mineral Resources” and “Inferred
Mineral Resources”. In addition, the SEC has amended its
definitions of “Proven Mineral Reserves” and “Probable Mineral
Reserves” to be substantially similar to international
standards.
Investors are cautioned that while the above
terms are “substantially similar” to CIM Definitions, there are
differences in the definitions under Regulation S-K 1300 and the
CIM Standards. Accordingly, there is no assurance any mineral
reserves or mineral resources that the Company may report as
“proven mineral reserves”, “probable mineral reserves”, “measured
mineral resources”, “indicated mineral resources” and “inferred
mineral resources” under NI 43-101 would be the same had the
Company prepared the mineral reserve or mineral resource estimates
under the standards adopted under Regulation S-K 1300. U.S.
investors are also cautioned that while the SEC recognizes
“measured mineral resources”, “indicated mineral resources” and
“inferred mineral resources” under Regulation S-K 1300, investors
should not assume that any part or all of the mineralization in
these categories will ever be converted into a higher category of
mineral resources or into mineral reserves. Mineralization
described using these terms has a greater degree of uncertainty as
to its existence and feasibility than mineralization that has been
characterized as reserves. Accordingly, investors are cautioned not
to assume that any measured mineral resources, indicated mineral
resources, or inferred mineral resources that the Company reports
are or will be economically or legally mineable.
Cautionary non-GAAP Measures and
Additional GAAP Measures
Note that for purposes of this section, GAAP
refers to IFRS. The Company believes that investors use certain
non-GAAP and additional GAAP measures as indicators to assess gold
mining companies. They are intended to provide additional
information and should not be considered in isolation or as a
substitute for measures of performance prepared with GAAP.
“Cash flow from operating activities before
changes in non-cash working capital” is a non-GAAP performance
measure that could provide an indication of the Company’s ability
to generate cash flows from operations and is calculated by adding
back the change in non-cash working capital to “cash provided by
(used in) operating activities” as presented on the Company’s
consolidated statements of cash flows. “Cash flow per share” is
calculated by dividing “cash flow from operations before changes in
working capital” by the weighted average number of shares
outstanding for the period. “Free cash flow” is a non-GAAP
performance measure that is calculated as cash flows from
operations net of cash flows invested in mineral property, plant
and equipment and exploration and evaluation assets as presented on
the Company’s consolidated statements of cash flows and that would
provide an indication of the Company’s ability to generate cash
flows from its mineral projects. “Mine site free cash flow” is a
non-GAAP measure which includes cash flow from operating activities
at, less capital expenditures at each mine site. “Return on equity”
is defined as earnings from continuing operations divided by the
average total equity for the current and previous year. “Mining
cost per tonne of ore” and “cost per tonne of ore” are non-GAAP
performance measures that could provide an indication of the mining
and processing efficiency and effectiveness of the mine. These
measures are calculated by dividing the relevant mining and
processing costs and total costs by the tonnes of ore processed in
the period. “Cost per tonne of ore” is usually affected by
operating efficiencies and waste-to-ore ratios in the period.
“Total capital expenditures per ounce produced” is a non-GAAP term
used to assess the level of capital intensity of a project and is
calculated by taking the total growth and sustaining capital of a
project divided by ounces produced life of mine. “Growth capital”
are expenditures primarily incurred at development projects and
costs related to major projects at existing operations, where the
projects will materially benefit the mine site. “Sustaining
capital” are expenditures that do not increase annual gold ounce
production at a mine site and excludes all expenditures at the
Company’s development projects. “Total cash costs per ounce”,
“all-in sustaining costs per ounce”, “mine-site all-in sustaining
costs”, and “all-in costs per ounce” as used in this analysis are
non-GAAP terms typically used by gold mining companies to assess
the level of gross margin available to the Company by subtracting
these costs from the unit price realized during the period. These
non-GAAP terms are also used to assess the ability of a mining
company to generate cash flow from operations. There may be some
variation in the method of computation of these metrics as
determined by the Company compared with other mining companies. In
this context, “total cash costs” reflects mining and processing
costs allocated from in-process and doré inventory and associated
royalties with ounces of gold sold in the period. Total cash costs
per ounce are exclusive of exploration costs. “All-in sustaining
costs per ounce” include total cash costs, exploration, corporate
and administrative, share based compensation and sustaining capital
costs. “Mine-site all-in sustaining costs” include total cash
costs, exploration, and sustaining capital costs for the mine-site,
but exclude an allocation of corporate and administrative and share
based compensation. “Adjusted net earnings” and “adjusted earnings
per share” are non-GAAP financial measures with no standard meaning
under IFRS. “Adjusted net earnings” excludes the following from net
earnings: foreign exchange gain (loss), items included in other
loss, certain non-reoccurring items, and foreign exchange gain
(loss) recorded in deferred tax expense. “Adjusted earnings per
share” is calculated by dividing “adjusted net earnings” by the
weighted average number of shares outstanding for the period.
Additional GAAP measures that are presented on
the face of the Company’s consolidated statements of comprehensive
income and are not meant to be a substitute for other subtotals or
totals presented in accordance with IFRS, but rather should be
evaluated in conjunction with such IFRS measures. This includes
“Earnings from operations”, which is intended to provide an
indication of the Company’s operating performance and represents
the amount of earnings before net finance income/expense, foreign
exchange gain/loss, other income/loss, and income tax expense.
Non-GAAP and additional GAAP measures do not have a standardized
meaning prescribed under IFRS and therefore may not be comparable
to similar measures presented by other companies. A
reconciliation of historical non-GAAP and additional GAAP measures
are detailed in the Company’s latest Management’s Discussion and
Analysis available online on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.ca
or on EDGAR at www.sec.gov and at www.alamosgold.com.
Figure 1: Lynn Lake District
Map
Figure 2: Plan View of Burnt Timber and
Linkwood 2024 Reserve Pits and Drilling
Figure 3: Linkwood Reserve Pit and
Exploration Upside
Figure 4: Burnt Timber Reserve Pit and
Exploration Upside
Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a4eb9919-fc67-4528-8564-3fd2de9aa234
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9ac3a9dd-15d4-4b67-8e55-6d44e73f1075
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/15a71220-aafa-44be-9f51-17d23a7a7ec1
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/43e0c5cb-67e8-4023-ab14-01056d51b4f8
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/46422c14-86fc-4436-be0d-a5d1b2af8a2a
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